🔗 Share this article US Forces Struck a 'Large Complex' in Venezuela, President Trump Asserted Lacking Providing Specifics. Ex-President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces hit a "major plant" in Venezuela in recent days. Yet, the former president did not specify the exact nature or site of the target, and officials have issued no further comment from his administration. Unspecific Remarks Made During a Radio Interview "US forces just eliminated – I'm not sure if you heard – they have a major complex, where the ships depart from. Two nights ago, we took it out. So we targeted them very hard," Trump reportedly informed Republican donor and businessman John Catsimatidis on Friday. Potential Implications of a Verified Strike Should a US military action is verified, it would constitute the initial attack on Venezuelan soil since the US Department of Defense began a expansion of US military presence in the region to halt narco-trafficking operations that the former administration alleges operate under the authority of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This original mission of the military buildup has since morphed into a quarantine aimed at stopping the country's oil exports. Online Footage and Administration Claims Trump has for some time indicated that American military units are poised to expand the operations by hitting targets within Venezuela, a move that would in theory require legislative authorization. Online video posted online on 24 December purportedly showed an detonation allegedly from an industrial area in Zulia state. Yet, the footage or the facility has not been confirmed by third parties. An source reportedly told a media outlet that the former president was describing a drug facility in his remarks. Response and Ongoing Military Situation The Venezuelan government has issued no statement on the incident Trump described. Furthermore, there have been no corroborating news from Venezuela regarding it. The deployment of American forces in the area – a stance some have called a naval quarantine – represents the most expansive naval operation of Trump's presidency. Sources have avoided from labeling the operation as a blockade, but have stated that around 15,000 personnel are stationed across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, including a carrier strike group, F-35 aircraft, and law enforcement vessels to implement existing sanctions.